Back up north again

The Safari had a superb day up at our local RSPB reserve with BD. Our arrival coincided with a tumultuous amount of Bearded Tit (165) activity - we were surrounded by them but could we get a decent view - no chance! We saw them fly quickly across the path, we saw them flit over the reed tops we even saw them flock up and take to the air rising to some height before dropping back into the reedbed but we just couldn't get a good prolonged view of a single one perched out in the open, they haven't started using the grit trays yet although they are furnished ready and waiting for the moustachioed wonders to visit.

Herons flew about calling 'Fraaank' and tree in the distance held eight Cormorants. A Reed Warbler sang non-stop but was it a real bird or an MP3 recording as there was an open ringing net close to where the sound was coming from. Close by a Chiffchaff and Blue Tit shared a Willow bush. A Snipe flew over and two Song Thrushes exploded out of a trackside shrub giving us both a start, migrants?

The Bearded Tits continued to tease us while a tiny bit of diurnal passage in the form of a trio of Skylarks with a couple of others heard and a smattering of unseen Meadow Pipits.

Water Rails squealed from the reeds close by as the sun rose over the hills and the air warmed appreciably. There wasn't a breath of wind and over the trees on the hillside several wisps of smoke appeared, who would be burning stuff at that time of the morning? A look through the bins showed it not to be smoke but huge masses of swirling insects.

They were more obvious in life than the pics suggest but a long way off.

BD copped a Stoat patrolling the edge of a cut area of reeds - lucky so-n-so, we've not seen one for far too long!

A short walk took us up the track to the nearest hide - as soon as we opened the door a vice called out  'there's an Otter here' - well that'll do nicely but it weren't no Stoat! There's not many years in our (lengthy) past when we've seen more Otters than Stoats, the Stoats better come back with a vengeance in the last three months of this year!

The Otter was great value but while we were watching a wonderful wiffle of of Wigeon and Pintail numbering a good hundred or so or more of each dropped in to the back of the pool.

Back near where we'd parked the Land Rover an unseeable Green Woodpecker teased us with its yaffling. The field over the road from the car parking spot used to be a good place to see them some 30 odd years ago but is now a golf course. To the side of us an old Ivy covered dry stone wall was buzzing loudly with the hum of insect wings.

We pondered over the ID of a couple hoping for an Ivy Bee but only managed to get pics of Honey Bee 

and a Common Carder Bee 

- many thanks to @RynaClarkNature for the confirmations.

One of the Honey Bees had got caught in a spider's web and was struggling to get out, in the absence of a spider we intervened and gave it its freedom.

Making tracks to the next hide a similar thing happened, we opened the door to calls of 'Peregrine!' - yep there was one attacking a flock of Black Tailed Godwits. Shame we had to shoot through the unopenable double glazed window.

An immature Marsh Harrier cruised around beneath them all eventually perching in a bush in full view for ages - nice. The rear of the pool held a Great White Egret and another Heron but it was the muddy areas that were more interesting. News was that the Peregrine had spooked a flock of small waders and they hadn't returned or had they? Another scan gave us no fewer than 10 Little Stints (166) and a handful of Ruffs. But hang on a mo there's a middle-sized wader hiding in there too, knock us down with an American (Siberian?) feather - a Pectoral Sandpiper (167).

Ruff - can't believe we didn't try to get even a digiphonescoped pic of the Little Stints or the Pectoral Sandpiper - what happened there???

A very enjoyable hour was then spent waiting for any sniff of a Water Rail while four Snipe, a Redshank and a Greenshank put in appearances. The wader we couldn't find was the commonest - no sign of any Dunlins at all!

All of a sudden the fastest Water Rail in the west burst out of the nearby reedbed sped across the mud and disappeared into the further 'island' of reeds and out of sight - but at least we now knew there was one about that might come out and show itself. We waited and waited seeing three Chiffchaffs squabbling in a tree, a Reed Warbler shot through and a showy Robin kept us occupied until at long last the Water Rail did show itself and by eck did it show well before giving us a show of the longest flight of any Water Rail we've ever seen!

Time to hit the coastal hides, where the walk in gave us a skein of about 50 Pink Footed Geese going south and a well hidden Goldcrest that didn't easily give itself up in the relatively sparse shrubby vegetation - roll on winter and the lack of leaves! Can't believe we said that on such a gloriously warm still late summer's day!!!

At the first hide most of the birds were over to the left in dreadful afternoon glare but there were a few to observe including a couple of Redshanks, a Little Egret and a Heron having a bit of argy-bargy and a smaller wader at the back which we both spotted at the same time - BD's first Curlew Sandpiper.

A few more feet closer would have made for sharper pics, these are very heavy crops

Scans of the various fence-lines didn't produced the hoped for Merlin. The further marshes were very quiet in the shimmering heat haze.
We didn't stay long moving on to the next hide where a life-size silhouette of Eric Morecambe is dancing to 'Bring me Sunshine' pose by the door. Inside that self same sunshine was bathing the birds we'd only minutes ago struggled to see in glorious light.

No fewer than 30 Little Egrets were lined up on the far bank just chillin when a flash of speeding iridescence alerted us to a Kingfisher sadly going away from us rather  than coming in to perch on a close post for a photo opportunity although BD's camera battery had died by then and he would have been  miffed.
We did however see some Dunlins...at last!!!

Once again the walk back to the Land Rover provided more ornithological opportunities in the form another speeding Kingfisher, this time much closer but did we flush it from its dyke-side perch or was it the Heron that flew past us moments before? Way above our heads a kettle of four Buzzards wheeling round in a tight spiral and beyond them against the trees of the far hillside we watch a Sparrowhawk cruising around.
All to soon it was time to head back to 'civilisation', we should have got there earlier and stayed out longer! Mustn't grumble though cos we had a superb day of wall to a wall safaring with only a ten minute stop of a coffee in the caff. And we didn't 'bother' to go to have a look at the Red Deer which by all accounts were showing quite well at the other hides.
Once back at Base Camp we were saddened to see all these berries in the green waste bin, OK so you can do what you like in your own garden but there'll be no  food for the thrushes in that one this winter...there was a Blackbird taking them just before we took the pic.
 
Where to next? Back to work and Patch 2 where hopefully a skein or two of Pink Footed Geese will fly by, not recorded them there this year yet and we'll be busy catching up so there'll be little chance of getting out for long so another trip to Anglesey could be on the cards for you tomorrow.
In the meantime let us know who's poking around in the mud in your outback

Nothing from Anglesey today

The Safari had a mixed day today starting with a few moths. It was the coolest night for a good while although still 10C at 08.00 there were a few moths inside including a nice Copper Underwing sp, our first Silver Y of the year was beginning to think one of these common things wouldn't turn up this year despite loads of very interesting migrant moths turning up all over the country.

In one of the eggboxes was THE tiniest of moths, we very nearly overlooked it and then almost dismissed it as 'just' a fly. But it turned out to be a new  species for us - hardly surprising!!! - Blastodacna hellerella.

We really like these tiny ones - why do they need to be so well patterned and/or coloured it's not as if they're easy to spot in the first place.

After the usual Sunday morning faffing about we decided to go to the nature reserve but Frank wasn't walking too well so we loitered wondering where to go instead when we got a text from Young Un AB requesting the loan of our stealth-cam due to animal 'incidents' in his garden so off we went.

The traffic was beyond humungous, we hadn't twigged that the airshow the other side of the river would be using our airport as their base and with the only two flying Avro Lancasters in town along with assorted Hurricanes, Spitfires, Typhoons and even the Vulcan everyone and his uncle was trying to get to a good vantage point at either end of the runway - right between Base Camp and AB's gaff.

The stealth-cam was duly delivered and we sat in the warm sunshine in the garden watching the bird feeders and butterflies on the Buddleia with AB and Eh-up muvver - Frank fell asleep but was woken when we dashed upstairs to his landing window when we heard the Lancasters fire up their eight Merlin engines.

Here's the best we could do from a mile away through the very wobbly heat haze...we've seen plenty better on Twitter and Facebook already.

This one made the most noise on take off - a vertical climb to how high??? Shame we could only get it coming back in to land - not bad for a 'garden tick'.

Other stuff flying around the garden were

So there you have it a rather different day to what we were expecting when we got  out of bed this morning.

Where to next? A trip to the north with ace photographer BD tomorrow

In the meantime let us know who's making all the thunderous noise in your outback.

Tales from Ynys Mon

The Safari has had a very pleasant week away with Wifey and Frank on the beautiful Welsh island of Anglesey renowned for its majority of Welsh speakers and its varied coastline which has wild cliffs and tiny coves as well as wide sandy beaches to explore. A place we've not been to for about 17 years and used to holiday there when a small kiddy with the family maybe 45 and more years ago.

At Penmon Head overlooking Puffin Island where there are now Puffins breeding again (although gone at this time of year) after the eradication of the Brown Rats that have been on there for several centuries.

We did see mammals, a Grey Seal, possibly two and at least three Bottlenose Dolphins probably interesting the the Sea Bass or whatever they were feeding on, a fisherman went home with a whopper for his tea and a big smile on his face, about 30 inches long - the fish not his smile.

Our cottage (very nicely appointed with a huge sun lounge and a sea view) was close to the beach at Lligwy where Frank enjoyed sloshing around in the pools

and there is a cliff top walk to the nearby town of Moelfre.

Offshore there is an anchorage for large ships waiting to get into the docks at Liverpool, their draught is so large that they have to time their arrival to coincide with the highest tides

This is the Spike all 249m x 44m and 'only' 11.9m draught - more than 30 feet below the waterline no wonder they need the high tide to get into the river!

With an unusual strong and persistent easterly wind developing 'our' beach became a bit uncomfortable to sit on for long so we had to find somewhere more sheltered...bring on Porth Eilean sheltered by the rocky promentary of Point Lynas

A few rockpools were here and we've got a bit of video for you later in the week once we've edited the best bits.

The west side of the island hosts a smaller island, Holy Island, which is home to the RSPB cliffs reserve at South Stack and yet another lighthouse

There was no chance of Frank getting anywhere near the steps down to the lighthouse so we visited the watch tower at the top of the cliff to view the seabird nesting cliffs

The seabirds have gone but there was a Chough (162) was still poking about in the Sea Campion looking for grubs n stuff.

Shoulda been there last week or the week before when the cliff top vegetation woulda been stunning.

 We also visited Maltreath Sands, we were last here 20 years ago and saw our first British Little Egret on a dreadfully wet and windy day, a Pectoral Sandpiper was also there that day. No Pec Sand today although the weather was far far better a beautiful warm proper summer's day! We saw this wader on the mud where all those years ago the 'Yank' had been - can you tell what it is?

Of course you do!

Rather larger than a Pec Sand!

The Little Egret was still there, maybe not the same one and there were five others around the estuary

A Kingfisher put in an appearance and just about the first bird we saw was a Curlew Sandpiper (163) hiding behind a small flockette of Redshanks, they're everywhere at the moment we even noticed today one was seen where we went to look for them locally just before we went away.

The light was horrid but after we'd walked down the old railway line to view the muddy 'inland' areas and come back it was even worse but we did find another Curlew Sand.
Cracking weather we had - not a drop of rain; that hasn't happened on any of our hols for a long time!!!

So there's a snippet of what we got up to last week, there's plenty more to come for later too.

Where to next? If won't be Anglesey but it could be somewhere much nearer with a further report on the Welsh isle depending on how much we find close to home to tell you about.

In the meantime let us know whose carrying the biggest draught in your outback.

Another super summery day

The Safari is enjoying this bit of an Indian summer. We've had stuff to do indoors but managed a bit of a mooch round the garden in the afternoon and then Frank took us to Magpie Wood for half an hour.

Hoverfly having a chill in the morning sun - darned phone focused past it on the brickwork - dohhh

Autumn colour is beginning to form

Field Scabious continues to provide late summer nectar for bees and hoverflies

It pays to watch where you're going!

Mystery mud lined nest - should be Blackbird but don't they line with grass, has it washed/blown out?

Old man's beard - don't you just love the old 'country' manes of stuff

Mystery ornamental plant - from a bulb we think but does anyone have a name?

Bird sown Dog Rose hips

Very few Apples on the tree this year and they all look like this - a tad unappetizing wouldn't you say?

Out on the field by Magpie Wood we always look for fungi at this time of year and found this one lurking under the edge of the hedge

Think they're great when they've gone past their best and have started to decay like this one - great patterns and shapes from all that gooey mush - brilliant.

So there you have it just a few short minutes out on safari and we've found a load of interesting seasonal stuff for you - ain't nature brill - Always something to see and learn everyday!

Where to next? Not sure about tomorrow, might have a surprise for you all.

In the meantime let us know who's going all gooey in your outback.

Tide's up!

The Safari hi-tailed it down to the southern estuary after work yesterday in the hope of spotting the two Scaup that had been seen earlier in the day. We were far too late, the tide had dropped a long way and the light was atrcoious glaring off the wet sand/mud. The birds had probaly drifted down the river on the ebbing tide, so that was a dip.

Today we offered photographer BD a lift down the other estuary where a nice selection of scarcer waders have been seen over the last few days. Sadly he was down with lurgy and unable to join us. 

A wander along the saltmarsh path gave us a the last of the Sea Asters, a couple of weeks ago the marsh would have had a beautiful violet flush from the myriad of flowers.

We weren't the om;y birder at the appointed place and MF was happy to tell us how he'd seen the quarry birds yesterday. Not long later the estuary expert LGB joined us - must have been something good out there then!

The tide hadn't started to rise yet and there was acres of mud to scan and lots of hidden creeks for any number of birdies to hide in - but with the tide on the rise the acres of mud would soon disappear and the creeks would fill flushing out their feathered treasures.

Looking the other way was somewhat trickier!

A flock of about 20 Black Tailed Godwits were working the top of the mud but there was little else on view other than scattered Curlews. Then a small flock of Dunlin flew past us and whirled round - the call went up Curlew Sandpiper...but did we see it? We thought so at the time but looking back in our mind's eye we'd have liked a much more obvious view of the white rump to be certain so we've not included it on our year list challenge...have to go back! They flock picked up some others from somewhere and about two dozen flew off downstream over our heads.

The water's continued to rise and Redshanks became more agitated and then we heard a Greenshank (161) calling, it continued to call continuously most of the time we were there. 

We scanned and scanned but there was no further sign of the Dunlin flock. Eventually the waters rose to start filling the gully in front of us first flushing off the Heron, then the Black Tailed Godwit and finally the Little Egret which was shoved off it's feeding area by a particularly fierce tidal bore.

Within minutes of these pics being taken the gully was full and the island of mud in front of us gone, time to retrace our steps a few yards to have a look at the last bit of mud on our side if the river, just two Dunlins and a few Redshanks - no sign of the Little Stint.
We ended with a ten minute scan of the disappearing mud on the far side of the river but couldn't find anything other than the usual common species.

OK so one out of three (four if you count yesterday's dipped Scaup) isn't a great result and hasn't done us any favours in our year list but it was a lovely couple of hours on the river. Peaceful, no sounds apart from the piping calls of the waders and the lapping of the waters becoming a noisy race warm sun no wind to speak of and good company - do you really need anything more in life? well maybe a pint or two of good beer eh.

Where to next? Hmm not sure about tomorrow, possibly some early morning cetacean watching, always provided we can find one.
In the meantime let us know what was hiding itself very effectively in your outback.

Another jaunt into south west Wales

The Safari hasn't had a chance to get out today but as luck would have it our Extreme Photographer sent some pics through from a recent exploratory adventure. He's been able to get out n about more recently now he's settled in down in Pembrokeshire and is starting to discover the local hotspots as well as some quieter little visited backwaters that he says could well produce the goods like this Common Lizard did on a rock in a random field.

Where to next? Not sure what might happen tomorrow, hopefully we'll be able to get out onto Patch 2 for a shuffy.
In the meantime let us know who's basking in the sunshine in your outback

Heavy duty digging

The Safari had a Sunday with a bit of a difference, we played host to a gang of teenagers. Seven of them came in a mini-bus to do a bit of gardening for us prepping up a little used area to make it safer for children and getting it ready for wildflower sowing and bog garden planting. Sadly we don't have a before pic and we weren't allowed to take pics of the crew while they were working.

The garden was originally a demonstration 'Carbon Neural' garden but the pond had been damaged by vandals and didn't hold much water but was still a 'falling' hazard for youngsters so the gates were never opened.

Our kids today came totally ill-dressed for gardening, one of the girls was in a going out/party type  dress but it was she who wielded the lump hammer to break off the WD40 smothered but still unopenable locks - the boys' efforts were puny.

Once in spades, forks and a mattock were used with great enthusiasm and effect. The idea was to reprofile the rear bank using the excess soil to fill the defunct pond - a simple task but there was a lot of pond to fill!

Some five hot hours later the task was just about finished. Stronger wire cutters would have moved the job on faster as would a larger workforce, we were expecting 14 only seven turned up but for inexperienced heavy duty gardening tool users they moved heaven and earth to complete the job - well about three tons of earth, not sure how much heaven!
As soon as we'd moved away once finished a Robin hopped down for a poke about to see if we'd unearathed any grubs for him - great to see.

The eagle-eyed amongst you will spot a few blue flecks of Meadow Cranesbill flowers, they are brill for bees. The idea is to plant some of the usual annual wildflower mixture on the bank behind the seat then plant some perennials in there too to attract moths, butterflies and bees amongst other insects for the kiddies to discover. The white area is crushed Cockles, so their limey conditions should be good for some low growing specialist plants.

The gang discovered three 7-spot Ladybirds, about the same number as we've seen all year except for the vast numbers on the seawall last April. Across the green we saw a Common Blue, Speckled Wood and a Small White butterflies. In-between all the huffing and puffing we heard our first Goldcrest (P2 # 69) and Chiffchaff (P2 #70) for the work's garden this year.

A great day watching youngsters work hard - we can't do it anymore, only 'supervise'! Don't let anyone tell you the youth of today are no good, there were seven here today who were very very good indeed and their efforts will be much appreciated by many in the months to come. Those last awful Phormiums at the back will have to go though - we can't abide the useless things.

Where to next? A busy day tomorrow with a class of kids learning about all the different Ice Age deposited rocks on the beach in the afternoon.

Let us know who's been wielding the hardware in your outback.